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Despite confession, questions linger in murder of 6-year-old Ahlittia North

Flugence Brothers.jpg

Matthew Flugence, left, was arrested and booked with first-degree murder in the death of 6-year-old Ahlittia North. His brother, Russell Flugence, right, was booked with obstruction of justice in the case.
(Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office)

With Matthew James Flugence's arrest and confession to the murder of Ahlittia North, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office investigators have answered the question of who killed the sweet-faced, 6-year-old girl from Harvey. But relatives, neighbors -- the entire community -- cannot fathom why Flugence, her cousin by marriage, would stab the little girl to death.

Ahlittia North, 6.JPSO

"It's a heartbreaker," said, Albert Hill, 46, Ahlittia's stepfather and Flugence's uncle. "If you can't trust your own family member, who can you trust?"

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand declined to comment on any motive Flugence, 20, might have mentioned during the questioning after his arrest in Westwego Tuesday night. But Normand said Flugence confirmed many of the details uncovered during the investigation of the case.

"We still have a lot of loose ends to tie up in the confirmation of the stories that have been given, but, obviously, this is a major milestone in this investigation," Normand said at a news conference Wednesday morning.

Flugence was captured Tuesday night, just hours after investigators identified him as the main suspect in Ahlittia's murder. Normand said citizens flooded the 911 call center around 9 p.m. with sightings of the suspect in the Victory Drive area of Westwego.

"We received several phone calls, one in which he approached an individual asking them for money and saying he was running from police," Normand said. With the assistance of Westwego police officers, authorities captured Flugence in the 800 block of Victory Drive. He was carrying a knife he later admitted was the murder weapon.

Three days of searching

Authorities spent three days searching for Ahlittia after she was reported missing from her apartment in the 2900 block of Destrehan Avenue in Harvey on Saturday around 9 a.m. Detectives found her slightly decomposed body stuffed inside a trash bin near the family's apartment early Tuesday morning.

Hill and Ahlittia's mother, Lisa North Hill, discovered their apartment door unlocked after they noticed she was missing. Also gone was a toothbrush, toothpaste and a brown and plaid comforter -- the same blanket under which her body would later be discovered.

Ahlittia North's family says they're heartbroken, during prayer walkPastor J.L. Hampton of Westside Missionary Baptist Association led a prayer walk up Destrehan Avenue where members of the community gathered in front of a growing memorial for 6-year old Ahlittia North. Ahlittia's mother and stepfather were there, and said the family is still heartbroken about their daughter's murder.

Flugence told detectives he found the girl outside her apartment Saturday morning, according to Normand. "His story was, in the very early morning hours, his exact words were, 'around sunrise,' he happened to see her out and about, and he was out and about walking through the neighborhood," Normand said.

Investigators found no forced entry into the home, so authorities aren't sure whether she let him inside the apartment or was lured outdoors. "She was a very vibrant young girl who was always wanting to get to the door first," Normand said. "That's not out of the ordinary."

Investigators now believe that Flugence killed Ahlittia sometime Saturday morning. Deputies called to the family's home because of the missing person report found a 2- by 3-foot pool of blood in the alley between the apartment buildings at 2836 and 2840 Destrehan Ave. while searching the area around 9:30 a.m., a Sheriff's Office incident report said.

Two days later, DNA testing would reveal the blood belonged to Ahlittia. Normand also revealed that investigators recovered the missing toothbrush behind the family's apartment on Monday morning.

Detectives don't yet know where the girl's body was hidden during the three-day search of the neighborhood. Normand has said investigators had previously searched the trash bin in which her body was found.

Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich said Wednesday that a pediatric rape kit performed during the autopsy found no obvious signs of sexual assault, including trauma, bruising or lacerations. But pathologists are still awaiting the results of other testing.

Sheriff notes callous attitude

Flugence was booked with first-degree murder on Tuesday night at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. He was also booked with sexual battery in connection with an unrelated allegation that he inappropriately touched an 11-year-old Harvey girl sometime in late April or May.

Normand noted the remorselessness exhibited by Flugence and his brother, Russell Flugence, 21, who was arrested and booked with obstruction of justice in the murder case. Russell Flugence allegedly knew all along that his brother was connected to Ahlittia's disappearance.

When asked about her during questioning, Russell Flugence said, "I don't give a f- about that little girl," according to Normand. When reporters asked Matthew Flugence, as he walked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna, whether he killed Ahlittia, Normand said he told them, "And f'ed your mother, too."

On Wednesday, Matthew Flugence was being held without bond on the first-degree murder charge. Bond on his sexual battery charge was set at $50,000. Bond for Russell Flugence was set at $250,000.

Matthew Flugence once lived with Ahlittia's mother and stepfather; Flugence often babysat for the little girl. Hill said he had no idea a family member could be responsible for her murder. "If I had a clue, he'd have never been around us," he said.

Despite the arrests, Normand said the investigation into the murder of Ahlittia North is still underway. He thanked the public for their cooperation thus far, but stressed that detectives are still seeking information about the two suspects, information that could lead to other crimes.

"Our goal at this point is to have the most presentable case possible for the district attorney in the prosecution of these two individuals," Normand said.

Anyone with information about the murder of Ahlittia North or suspects Matthew and Russell Flugence is asked to call the Sheriff's Office investigations bureau at 504.364.5300. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867. Tips can be texted to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637); text TELLCS then the crime information.